Walking iron



. "iron permitting Patented May 28, 1946 I 1;

UNITED STATES PAT-EN T osFicE WALKING IRON Eliot D. Green, San Francisco, Calif. Application December 11, 1943, Serial No. 513,968

Claims.

My invention relates to walking irons, a device applied to a cast on' a fractured leg to permit substantial use of the leg during healing of'the fracture. r Among the objects of my invention are:

1. To provide a novel and improved walking a close approach to normal wa1k ing freedom.

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. 128 -87) y y y v l, in which positionfthe edges ofthe cap will serve to actas a lock to prevent the boot from slipping off in use.

The ground-engaging assembly is assembled to the cast anchoring U-shaped element l by frictionally clamping the depressed bottom 9 between a substantially hemispherical element ll, having ZLQ'I'o' provide a novel and improved walking torsional stresses and strain in during walking. 3. To provide a novel and improved walking iron permitting virtually ing.

i. To provide a novel and improved walking iron capable of being molded or shaped to conform to the cast to which it is applied.

a fractured limb normal heel to toe walkiron designed to minimize the development of lo 5. To provide a novel and improved walking provide positive and firm interlocking with the ityofsuchassembly to perform its properfunc- Figure 1 is a vertical elevational view of my novel and improved walking iron; 7

Figure 2 is a view in section through the ground-engaging portion and joint assembly when in symmetrical position with respect to the cast anchoring portion; I

"Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating thelimited universal motion permitted by such. joint assembly.

In its preferred embodiment, my improved walking iron comprises a cast anchoring portion I of U-shape and a ground engaging portion or assembly 3 attached at the lower end of the U- shaped element by a rattle-free joint 5 of novel construction permitting limited universal movement.

The ground engaging assembly 3 comprises an inverted cup-shaped element 1 having a depressed bottom 9 of substantially hemispherical contour and provided with a central opening H, The

- lower or open end of this inverted cup-shaped element is spanned by a cap or closure l3 prefers ably press-fitted thereon. A rubber boot i5 is adapted to be slipped over the cap 13 and engage the side walls of the inverted cup-shaped element is threaded through the U-shaped element. Thus 'itsbase contacting the U-shaped element, and a cupped'washer l9 by a machine'screw or bolt 21 passing-'throughthis washer and hemispherical element and engaginga threaded opening in bottom end of the U-shaped element.

The cupped washer l9 comprisesone of an assembly of washers which includes a second the cupped washer 23 adjacent and in contact with the headof the screw 2| and spaced from the first washer H! by an intermediatewasher 25 of resili-. ent material such as rubber. This washer assembly perform a veryimportant function, in that the intermediate resilient washer 25 provides-for a sufiicient amount of give to permit universal movement of the ground-engaging assemblvupon the hemispherical element as a bearing surface inrespon se to the shifting of'weight of a patient during walking while atthe same time, compensating forfwear iri'the joint; to preclude the development of l-ooseness and accompanying rattlingof parts after a period of use. i l

Too h'gh a-degi'eeof compression of the washer assembly, however, would serve to lessen the abiltion in the operation of the device during use,

so inorder to preclude such high degree of compression of thewasher assembly as to destroy its "efficiency, I provide a collar 21 around the shank of the bolt between the hemispherical element l1 and the cupped washer 23 adjacent the head of the screw. The length of this collar is just sufiicient to permit the required amountof compressionof the washer assembly before the compression effect of the screw is taken up'by'the collar, i i

"This collar 21- performs an additional function of importance in my device, in that it coopcrates with the edge of the opening H in determining the limit of universal movement of the ground-engaging assembly. This function of the collar is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing.

A nut 29 applied to the end of the machine screw serves as a locking nut rather than a tightening nut, in viewof the fact that the screw 2| the likelihood of the screw coming loose is thereby minimized.

In assembling the ground-engaging portion 3 to the U-shaped element l, the inverted cupshaped element 1 is clamped into position prior to applying the cap l3 and the .boot i5 thereto. The cap [3 is provided with a central aperture 3| to enable access to the screw with a screwdriver at any time that it becomes necessary to make adjustments or repairs.

The U-shaped element l is formed with corners 33 of substantial radius or curvaturev as distinguished from sharp bends, while anchoring tabs 35 are punched out from'the side members of the U-shaped element.

l The walking iron is applied to a patient by /straddling the foot end of the cast and then anchoring the side members to the castby bandages and cast material such as plaster of Paris.

In this connection, the roundedcorners of. the U-shaped element afford a decided advantage over the conventional square ends of prior art walking irons, in that they enable the U-shaped element to be molded to conform to the end of the cast to which it is applied. I

The anchoring tabs provided in the-side members of the U-shaped element being integral with the U-shaped element lnot only. provide very substantial weight-carrying means, but, by reason of their shape, they facilitate the application of the bandages and cast'materialpat the same time simplifying the procedure of removing,

the cast from a-persons limb. r I

From the above description of my invention, it

will be apparent that the same fulfills all the objects recited therefor, and-'while I have limited my description to a specific embodiment of my invention, it isapparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification, without departing from the broad features incorporated therein, and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details as I have disclosed and described, except as may be necessitated by'the'appended claims.-

:Iclaim:

l. A walking iron comprisinga- U-shapedelement; a ground engaging portion;andmeans; afiixing said ground engaging portion-to said U-' shaped element, said means including a. joint having limited universal movement.;- 7

2. A walking iron comprising-a one-pieceyushaped element having corners of, substantial radius'of curvature and integral anchoring tabs directed away from and at an angle to the side members of said U-shaped element, a ground engaging assembly, 'and means'affixing said ground engaging assembly to said U-shaped element intermediatesaid corners and permitting limited universal movement thereof;

3. A walking iron comprising a U-shaped element; a ground engaging assembly including an inverted cup-shaped element having a depressed bottom centrally apertured, and about of resilient material fitting over said cup-shaped element; and means afiixingsaid ground engaging assembly to said U-shaped element including an element providing a bearing surface for sliding contact by the depressed bottom of said inverted cup-shaped element, a washer within said inverted cup-shaped element said washer being cupped to conform to the general curvature of said depressed bottom, a clamping screw passing upwardly through said washer and said aforementioned element into engagement with said U- shaped element and clamping said depressed bottom betweensaid element and saidwasher.

' 4. A walking iron comprising a U-shaped element having comers of substantial radius of curvature; a ground engaging assembly including an inverted cup-shaped element having a depressed bottom centrally apertured, and a boot of resilient material fitting over said cup-shaped element; and means afiixing said ground engage ing assembly to said u-shaped element including a substantially hemispherical element having its base contacting the u-shaped element to expose a bearing surface for sliding contact by the depressed bottom of said inverted cup-shaped element, a compressible washer assembly within said inverted cup-shaped element said washer assembly being cupped to conform to the general curvature of said depressed bottom, and a machine screw passing upwardly through saidwasher assembly and hemispherical element into screw threaded engagement with said U-shaped element and clamping said depressed bottom between said hemispherical element and said washer assembly.

5. A walking iron comprising a U-shaped element having corners of substantial radius of curvature and integral anchoring tabs on the side members of said U-shaped element; a ground engaging assembly including an inverted cupshaped element having-a depressed bottom centrally apertured, a centrally'apertured cap spanning said cup-shaped element,-and a boot of resilient material fitting over said cap and cupshaped element; and means afiixing said ground engaging assembly to said U-shaped element including a substantially hemispherical element having its base contacting the U-shaped element to expose a bearing surface for sliding .contact by the depressed bottom of said inverted cupshaped element, a compressible washerassembly within said inverted cup-shaped element, said washer assembly being cupped to conform to the general curvature of said depressed bottom,

a machine screw passing upwardly through said washer assembly and hemispherical element into screw threaded engagement with said U-shaped element and clamping said depressed bottom between said hemispherical element and said washer assembly, and a collarv on said machine screw limiting both the compressibility of said washer assembly and the extent. of permissible movement of said cup-shaped element on said hemispherical element.

ELIOT D. GREEN. 

